Pelini’s job at Youngstown St. will save Nebraska $1.4 million

OMAHA, Neb. — The Nebraska athletic department will save about $1.4 million in contract buyout payments to Bo Pelini with the former football coach’s hiring at Youngstown State, according to the revised payment schedule released Tuesday.

Pelini will receive $128,009 a month from Nebraska through February 2019. That’s $21,991 less than the $150,000 a month he was owed before Youngstown hired him in December, shortly after his firing at Nebraska.

Pelini was paid $3.1 million in his final year at Nebraska. He signed a four-year contract at Youngstown for $213,894 a year. The original total buyout of $7.9 million was reduced to $6.54 million. The Omaha World-Herald first reported the mitigated figures.

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Nebraska fired Pelini on Nov. 30 after he went 66-27 over seven seasons. His hiring at Youngstown State, which plays in the lower-level Football Championship Subdivision, was announced Dec. 16, but he didn’t sign his contract with the Penguins until May 4.

Nebraska paid Pelini $51,519 for April to account for pay he received from Youngstown before he signed his contract. His regular $128,009 payments began this month.

Athletic director Shawn Eichorst has said Pelini’s buyout would be paid out of department operational reserves. Pelini is required to notify Nebraska within 30 days if his compensation changes at Youngstown so Nebraska’s monthly payment can be recalculated.

Pelini’s predecessor, Bill Callahan, received a lump-sum buyout of $3.13 million from Nebraska after he was fired following the 2007 regular season.